A Pennsylvania Democratic C-SPAN caller on Tuesday said she was done voting for Democrats amid dissatisfaction with the party over the ongoing government shutdown.
The shutdown started on Oct. 1 after Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rallied nearly all Senate Democrats to block a bipartisan funding bill. The caller suggested on “Washington Journal” that Democrats should vote to end the shutdown, particularly appearing to express concern about Americans potentially losing food aid on Nov. 1.
WATCH:
“I am a Pennsylvania Democrat. And I would like to tell my party and those that the American people voted for to be sitting in those chairs that they need to vote yes,” the caller said. “And I don’t know if everybody gets their news from social media, but I have watched for the past couple of days the YouTube and the people that are receiving the benefits stating what their plans are. And I don’t want to be in the grocery store when this goes down.”
“I have a problem with my party, and I’m not going to change my party,” she continued. “I just won’t vote for a Democrat.”
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which distributes food assistance to over 40 million Americans, will lose funding on Nov. 1 unless Congress acts. Dozens of states have cautioned they will pause benefits by that date if the shutdown lingers.
Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked Republican efforts to end the shutdown, with Schumer leading filibusters. They have indicated that they will not support any funding agreement that excludes an extension of Obamacare subsidies and other Democratic priorities.
Moreover, a Democratic retired federal worker who called into “Washington Journal” on Monday also criticized her party for refusing to reopen the government and raised concerns about food aid.
“[T]hey have to get together and stop holding Americans hostage. We’re about to have people without food come, what, November 1st, which is the end of this week,” the Monday caller said. “And that’s ridiculous. It is not worth it.”
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
